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  #1  
Old Posted Jul 1, 2014, 12:31 AM
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Philadelphia Anything Goes | within reason

We veered off topic on the Evo forum (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=137163) but started a fun conversation. Remember Philadelphia before Liberty Place dominated the skyline in 1988? Philadelphia reminds you of Richmond (or whatever city you came from)? Or you just want to talk about Philadelphia for a reason not covered in other threads. Let's do it here.

Keep in mind, this is SKYSCRAPERpage, so keep it relevant to development, past, present, or future.

Last edited by philatonian; Jul 2, 2014 at 11:29 PM.
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  #2  
Old Posted Jul 1, 2014, 4:18 AM
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Thank you for making this thread! I was getting tired of reading all the lame posts about casinos and whatnot on the other threads... IMO we don't need, or should even want a casino. That's just me. Hopefully nobody replies to that... Well I'm curious to see if this thread goes anywhere.
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  #3  
Old Posted Jul 1, 2014, 1:30 PM
Baconboy007 Baconboy007 is offline
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Convention Center

Read a great article for this thread. It's about the bill of goods Convention center companies sold us on why we need to spend more of our tax dollars on their products. I couldn't help but think of all that is going on in Philadelphia right now even though the article is about what is happening in DC. I hope things get better but if the markets that we are trying to steal conventions from are struggling then that might mean there's not enough business to be stole. I think the convention center should start taking advantage of the big open space that it has and invest in go-carts.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...8ce_story.html

Last edited by Baconboy007; Jul 1, 2014 at 5:29 PM. Reason: a word
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  #4  
Old Posted Jul 1, 2014, 1:35 PM
Baconboy007 Baconboy007 is offline
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Add thread to discussion list

Hey how does one get to this thread? I don't see it on the list, I just clicked the link you posted.
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  #5  
Old Posted Jul 1, 2014, 4:10 PM
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THANK YOU!

Absolutely necessary thread. Between all the pointless casino talk in the development thread and the endless squabbling in the W thread it was getting to be intolerable!

Interesting article on convention centers Baconboy007. I definitely think this applies to the PA convention center. The huge behemoth walls off a large chunk of the city and the money we spent on it could have been spent on much more important things.
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  #6  
Old Posted Jul 1, 2014, 5:20 PM
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I think the thread name needs to be modified to remove the colon, and add the pipe. That should adhere to the thread naming convention.

Instead of this:
Philadelphia: Anything Goes

It should be:
Philadelphia | Anything Goes
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  #7  
Old Posted Jul 1, 2014, 5:27 PM
Baconboy007 Baconboy007 is offline
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Originally Posted by Philly-Drew View Post
I think the thread name needs to be modified to remove the colon, and add the pipe. That should adhere to the thread naming convention.

Instead of this:
Philadelphia: Anything Goes

It should be:
Philadelphia | Anything Goes
Man... we're taking nit picking to a whole new level
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  #8  
Old Posted Jul 1, 2014, 7:42 PM
eliasrapp98 eliasrapp98 is offline
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If this is the proper place to discuss the casino thing, let me say this...

To ScreamShatters point about not enough things for the rich to do, let me say, that you are incredibly out of date. Philadelphia is geared towards young people, but that doesn't mean poor people. On every block of center city there are amazing, 5 star restaurants. Just to name a few off the top of my head...

Rittenhouse: A Kitchen, Parc, Barclay Prime, Tinto, Dandelion

13th Street District: Barbuzzo, El Vez, Sampan, Vetri, Valanni, Amis

Washington Square: Morimoto, Talula's Garden, M Restaurant, Budakkan, Fork, Rosa Blanca

Avenue of the Arts: Sbraga, Volver, Estia, Capital Grill, Tashan

Logan Square: Fountain at the Four Seasons, Chima

In terms of entertainment, you have the amazing theatre scene on Broad and tons of other nice bars, etc. The beauty of Philly is that the rich and middle class and to an extent, the poor are all together. We're not Miami. We don't have these ridiculous VIP only clubs. We have plenty for the rich to do that doesn't involve having to feel above everyone else.

Regardless of all that, a casino in center city does nothing to help. I like the idea of the Market 8 location being a 40 story resort, nicer than the Four Seasons even, with amazing spas and pools, entertainment, and restaurants. Even upscale clubs. I love it. That area could use that kind of boost and it will translate to a nicer Market East, but we don't need slot machines or even poker tables to do that. Casinos never help an area. Vegas is the ONLY example in America and that's because the city is built on it and has sooo much else going on (boxing, clubs, etc). That's not Philly however.

Also don't try and tell me that the only way to get something like that built there is to include casinos. This isn't 2009 anymore. Philly is booming unlike any other city in America today. Someone will build something better there. We don't have to settle like we did 5 years ago.
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  #9  
Old Posted Jul 2, 2014, 11:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eliasrapp98 View Post
If this is the proper place to discuss the casino thing, let me say this...

To ScreamShatters point about not enough things for the rich to do, let me say, that you are incredibly out of date.

Philly is booming unlike any other city in America today. Someone will build something better there. We don't have to settle like we did 5 years ago.
I would never consider a casino something that caters to the rich. If they're rich enough to blow money at Barclay Prime, they're rich enough to gamble in Monte Carlo.

Definitely love your last statement.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Baconboy007 View Post
Read a great article for this thread. It's about the bill of goods Convention center companies sold us on why we need to spend more of our tax dollars on their products. I couldn't help but think of all that is going on in Philadelphia right now even though the article is about what is happening in DC. I hope things get better but if the markets that we are trying to steal conventions from are struggling then that might mean there's not enough business to be stole. I think the convention center should start taking advantage of the big open space that it has and invest in go-carts.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...8ce_story.html
I think DC and Baltimore, and New York to a lesser extent, is exactly the convention market that Philadelphia is primed to steal. The relaxed work rules already make Philadelphia easier to deal with than DC and Baltimore, and New York was already more complicated than Philadelphia. NY just happened to have Manhattan on its side. So being that much closer to New York puts us even further ahead of DC and Baltimore. Not to mention, the PCC has absolutely one of the best convention center locations in the country. Considering two huge conventions who swore never to return to Philadelphia, are returning, and a hotel has already been proposed on the desolate north side of the center, things are going to change fast.
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  #10  
Old Posted Jul 3, 2014, 1:20 PM
McBane McBane is offline
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A joke on the forum - a rendering of the old Center City Tower (was that the name?) made me nostalgic. If you could resurrect 5 dead ass skyscraper projects, what would they be?

Mine?

5. Center City Tower - I love this design. 75 floors. And over 1,000 feet tall (without a spire). Only reason it's not higher on this list? Because the plot today is occupied by the handsome RATR and in the near future (hopefully) the W. Plus, it was slated for Comcast and we do have one and soon two Comcast buildings. But in a vacuum, it was a beauty that would have been a great addition to our skyline. http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=6290

4. Bridgeman's View - At about 750 feet tall, this not only would be have been one of the city's tallest buildings, its "isolation" would have made a very big impact on our skyline and visible from nearly all angles. Would have also been one of the tallest residential-only towers in the country. http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=47215

3. 17th and Vine - Nearly 900 feet of office space in a location that would have really stood out. Sure, it's the location of the Mormon Church, but I'd rather have a skyscraper here. http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=7423

2. Mandeville Place - If built, this would have been the most beautiful tower in the city. At over 600 feet at 24th and Walnut, it would have looked great, helping bridge the emerging Univ City skyline with CC. I'm sure this one would be on everyone's list.
http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=37107

1. Corestates Tower - I don't even have a rendering of this one, but reports say it would have been between 40 and 50 floors, which would likely put it at between 700 to 900 feet. A major bank HQ at 8th and Market would have put Market East on a better path many years ago. This of course assumes, it's not bought out by FU. http://articles.philly.com/1989-08-3...feistman-tower

Honorable mentions:
WTC - A pure fantasy of a collection of ugly residential and office buildings. Still, would have been cool. Far better than what's there now.
River City - This might not be the right name and it was pure fantasy but I recall several high-rises where there is nothing but parking now.

Many (but not all) dead proposals listed here and I assume there are other sources: http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?cityID=326&statusID=6
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  #11  
Old Posted Jul 3, 2014, 1:52 PM
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Originally Posted by McBane View Post
AWTC - A pure fantasy of a collection of ugly residential and office buildings. Still, would have been cool. Far better than what's there now.
I would add that the original WTC proposal from the late 1980s would have been better. link here to the article: http://articles.philly.com/1988-11-0...national-trade
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  #12  
Old Posted Jul 3, 2014, 2:05 PM
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http://philaphilia.blogspot.com/2011...july-14th.html

I always thought 1441 Chestnut was pretty cool from the renderings. I liked the "2 towers" look at the top of it.

I love the Center City Tower design as well ... I guess some developer could still hire/buy the design from King Lindquist and build it? Not sure how that all works.

American Commerce Center was like a wild dream of a tower... well fantasy, I guess too cool to be true.
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  #13  
Old Posted Jul 3, 2014, 2:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by McBane View Post
A joke on the forum - a rendering of the old Center City Tower (was that the name?) made me nostalgic. If you could resurrect 5 dead ass skyscraper projects, what would they be?

Mine?

5. Center City Tower - I love this design. 75 floors. And over 1,000 feet tall (without a spire). Only reason it's not higher on this list? Because the plot today is occupied by the handsome RATR and in the near future (hopefully) the W. Plus, it was slated for Comcast and we do have one and soon two Comcast buildings. But in a vacuum, it was a beauty that would have been a great addition to our skyline. http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=6290

4. Bridgeman's View - At about 750 feet tall, this not only would be have been one of the city's tallest buildings, its "isolation" would have made a very big impact on our skyline and visible from nearly all angles. Would have also been one of the tallest residential-only towers in the country. http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=47215

3. 17th and Vine - Nearly 900 feet of office space in a location that would have really stood out. Sure, it's the location of the Mormon Church, but I'd rather have a skyscraper here. http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=7423

2. Mandeville Place - If built, this would have been the most beautiful tower in the city. At over 600 feet at 24th and Walnut, it would have looked great, helping bridge the emerging Univ City skyline with CC. I'm sure this one would be on everyone's list.
http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=37107

1. Corestates Tower - I don't even have a rendering of this one, but reports say it would have been between 40 and 50 floors, which would likely put it at between 700 to 900 feet. A major bank HQ at 8th and Market would have put Market East on a better path many years ago. This of course assumes, it's not bought out by FU. http://articles.philly.com/1989-08-3...feistman-tower

Honorable mentions:
WTC - A pure fantasy of a collection of ugly residential and office buildings. Still, would have been cool. Far better than what's there now.
River City - This might not be the right name and it was pure fantasy but I recall several high-rises where there is nothing but parking now.

Many (but not all) dead proposals listed here and I assume there are other sources: http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?cityID=326&statusID=6
I agree with your entire list . Damn shame they are not reality . A foot note about Bridgeman's view tower ....... I believe the original concept called for a 915' tower .
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  #14  
Old Posted Jul 3, 2014, 3:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Outta here View Post
I agree with your entire list . Damn shame they are not reality . A foot note about Bridgeman's view tower ....... I believe the original concept called for a 915' tower .
Yes I remember Bridgeman's to be over 900'.

My list would be Center City Tower, Mandeville Place, the twin IBX tower (just because of how long that empty lot has bothered me), Parkway22 and Bridgeman's.
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  #15  
Old Posted Jul 3, 2014, 4:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by McBane View Post

1. Corestates Tower - I don't even have a rendering of this one, but reports say it would have been between 40 and 50 floors, which would likely put it at between 700 to 900 feet. A major bank HQ at 8th and Market would have put Market East on a better path many years ago. This of course assumes, it's not bought out by FU. http://articles.philly.com/1989-08-3...feistman-tower

[/url]
Here you go-- it was included in the model of BLT's Market East master plan from the early 90s. Was originally going to be 45 stories but was later bumped up to 54. Corestates backed out of anchoring the tower in '91 and it all went to hell

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  #16  
Old Posted Jul 3, 2014, 5:10 PM
McBane McBane is offline
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Thanks Aaam. I figured you'd have this info, if anyone would.

Yes, I do remember Bridgeman's View being in the 900 feet realm but didn't have any evidence so I just went with what the database said.

I'm curious to see what other people have on their top 5 list. Sure beats talking about casinos!
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  #17  
Old Posted Jul 3, 2014, 6:26 PM
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I'd say Bridgeman's View was my favorite. The color and shape were unique, and having something as tall as Liberty Place that far north would have really made the skyline wild. There were about a dozen high-rise and mid rise proposals right around that area that could have created another mini downtown. It's too bad the only thing we got was the least urban of them all, Waterfront Square. I wish the developer would scrap his dream of building the remaining towers and redesign the remaining space to incorporate the street and dilute the existing towers so it looks less like a compound and more like part of the city.

Stunning image of Bridgeman's View here. I'd love to see this rendering with the other dead proposals added to it.



The others I wish would come back are Mandeville Place and Stamper Square. As far as I know, nothing's been proposed for the Mandeville site. With all the development proposed for the Schuylkill River, maybe a new developer will buy the plans.
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  #18  
Old Posted Jul 3, 2014, 6:29 PM
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Originally Posted by skyscraper View Post
I would add that the original WTC proposal from the late 1980s would have been better. link here to the article: http://articles.philly.com/1988-11-0...national-trade
This proposal never seemed to completely go away. It turned into Renaissance Plaza then moved across the river to Camden.



Of course any time I hear "Renaissance" I think of Detroit. Philadelphia doesn't need a renaissance. This city's already booming.
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  #19  
Old Posted Nov 6, 2014, 10:28 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by philatonian View Post
I'd say Bridgeman's View was my favorite. The color and shape were unique, and having something as tall as Liberty Place that far north would have really made the skyline wild. There were about a dozen high-rise and mid rise proposals right around that area that could have created another mini downtown. It's too bad the only thing we got was the least urban of them all, Waterfront Square.
I remember comparisons being thrown out to developing something along the lines of Vancouver's waterfront views back when Bridgeman's View was active.

Bridgeman View, Trump, 101 Sky, Waterfront Sq, Penn Treaty Tower, 700 Del Ave, World Trade, Marina View, 412 Front Street



This would have been nice:


This was one of my favorites:
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  #20  
Old Posted Nov 6, 2014, 3:43 PM
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^ ha. Nice map, though honestly, I feel like we're getting a bunch of great infill projects that are actually part of the urban fabric and not just siloed off on the waterfront. I think that's more important for the city overall. But, shiny things are nice.
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